Wear: Corset One

The finished final corset, with Elizabethan style bust

Maybe?

Well, I guess it's done

So much work! And yet, it doesn't feel "perfect".  It looks good, but it's not quite right. You'll notice the top is a little too straight-up, and so doesn't emphasize the waist (compare to the shot lower down of the Orchard Corset). I took the extra volume out of the back, but I fear that's just making the bones sit awkwardly along my back.  It cuts a little high under the arms as well, rubbing when my arms are down.

I am particularly pleased with the bust line though - I think that worked a treat and is exactly what I wanted.

 

It also looks good with a shirt underneath; I was a bit worried about that. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to wear it anywhere but to a black-tie event! Ultimately though, as it stands, the Orchard corset is just more comfortable.

What next for the corset

I'm going to spend a few weeks breaking it in, then I'm going to re-evaluate how it's fitting. I think I'll have to unpick the binding around the top (sob) and cut the arm scye lower, as well as re-chopping the bones shorter in that area.  I may also take out the back adjustments, but we'll have to see. And it's still missing a modesty panel.

And I need to find some better way of taking full length selfies, other than using the bathroom mirror!

What next in general

A hat! I'm going to make a garrison cap, which I think will be a great thing to wear in winter, as well as a good steampunk costuming accessory.

Time/Cost

Time

• One month start to finish, from planning and drafting the pattern to mockups to the final thing.
• Actual time spent on corset related activities? I'm not sure, but let's go with 30-40 hours.

Running Costs

• Calico for mockups - 1.5m at $10.00/m (already owned)
• Cardboard for patterns - 2 sheets at $1.50/sheet
• Fashion fabric - 0.5m at $15.00/m (already owned)
• Interfacing - 0.5m at $12.00/m
• Lacing - 10m at $1.00/m
• Boning - about 8m at $4.00/m
• Grommets - Pack of 30 at $5.00/pack
• Satin bias binding - 2m at $1.50/m
• Freezer paper - 1m at $1.05/m]
• Black coutil - 1.5m at $35/m
• Total - $135*

Injuries

• Two smashed thumbs (not from setting grommets)
• One bruised knee
• Many pricked fingers
• Tennis elbow from hammering in the grommets
• My patience

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* For comparison, the Orchard corset cost about AU$100 delivered, though it has less boning and less coutil (only 1 layer as far as I can tell). This doesn't include any tool costs. I'll always use them.

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